Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-06-10
FLOWER-MIssION DAY.
The Ladies Visit the Hail. Aims
hOuSp and penfteutiary.

II j beautiful custom which the ladies'
Of the Woman's Christian Temperance
Union bavc instituted OF once year VISIT
irg the inmates OF prisons aud almShouses
and giving them bouquets OF flowers, With
tCXlS of scriptures, verses, or notices
attached TO each. The 9TH OF June was
chosen rs the day on which 1t should bo
observed, and yesterday, all over thiN
broad land. wherever there is a branch OF
the order, this pleasing Chlistlln duty was
performed. d.
In this CITY at fhe almshouse the ladie'
wete unable, by reason OF physical difficult
ties, to get the inmates collected, and so
tbev bad TO divide the labor and visit the
hospital and several rooms in detachments.
As many. however, a. could come were
gathered in the chapel at 3 O'Clock, where
The following order OF religious exercises
we're Observed Hymn by the Woman
Christian Temperance Union. Bible and
leafet reading by Mrs. A. NJ. Hill, prayer
bv Mrs. l.. Il. Jackson, distribution OF
flowers and texts, and closing hymn by
The congregation. About fifteen lAdie'
took part in the public exercises at this
place, while many Others were engaged in
the minor parts.
From this place a detachment visited the
Spring street Home, where religious SER
wees were held in connection with the dis
tIibution Of flowers, sc.
At the penitentiary the exercises were
on much larger scale. AL 6 O'Clock thc
men were all gathered together ana the
proceedings were opened with singing by
the prison choir. Mrs. John &. CrenshaW
lhen read the Bible selection then another
hymn by the choir.
Mr.. ". ii. j. Parker a student from Rich
mond College, read letter from one OF TIE
prisoners expressing his gratitude at the in
ierest which the ladies' have taken in theil
welfare and closing with some verses OF orig
inal poetry. Mr.. Parker said that a. t)kei
OF the appreciation I'm which the Indies OF
the Woman's Christian Temperance Union
are beid he presented TO the union In the
name OF the prisoners a beautiful design IN
the shape OF q heart enclosed in frame
with glass front.
Mrs. W. II. Pleasants received it in ap
prOpTiate terms.
Prayer was led by Mrs. VI. b. Lee.
Then all united IN singing the hymn
Nearer, My God, TO Thee" a selection
chosen bv the head Of The order for this Oc.
caSi0n wherever the observance was cele'
bratedaMis4 {. V. Dyer, Of the Hartshorn
Memorial College, then delivered beauti
ful and appropriate address.
At the conclusion OF Miss Dyer's address
two little misses. Hattie Grady and Matte
Shaier, sang very swectly beautiful hymn,
entitled "God Be With You Till We Meet
Again." which was listened to with deep
and breathiess attention. They had pre-
yiously sung the same piece at the alms'
house.
The prison choir sang another hymu
after which the distribution of flowers and
texts was made, and the proceedings were
closed with a hymn, in which all Joined.
Mrs. VIM. II. Pleasants, president o
the state Union, presided over the meeting
While this was going on in the mali
prison number OF the ladies' visited tn
women's department, and held relgiou
exercises previous 20 the customary distrl
hnlinn OF flowers.